# data[].attributes.headline
In Memoriam List for 2021 Alumni Memorial Service

# data[].attributes.subject
In Memoriam List for 2021 Alumni Memorial Service

# data[].attributes.body
The list of alumni and faculty whose deaths were recorded by the school during this past calendar year.

# data[].attributes.body
Livestreamed event at 10 a.m. EST on June 13, 2021.  Register now on the reunion page. The list of alumni and faculty we have lost is available in the download section there http://bit.ly/CKreunionPage. Please share your memories, photos, stories and condolences here.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bill Boothby '36 left an amazing legacy as a professor of Mathmatics

# data[].attributes.subject
Bill Boothby '36 left an amazing legacy as a professor of Mathmatics

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Boothby  passed away on February 14 at the age of 102. After serving in the US Army Air Forces in World War II, He earned his PhD at U of M in 1946. He began his career on the faculty of Northwestern University as an instructor of mathematics. In 1960, he moved to Washington University in St. Louis, where he remained until his retirement in 1988. Enjoy this video that was made on campus to celebrate his 100th birthday.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dr. Bill Boothby C'36 100th birthday wishes from Cranbrook Schools

# data[].attributes.body
Betsy Clark had so many roles here over the years it is hard to know where to begin! Writing teacher extraordinaire. Dean of the Girls Middle School, Author of "Beside a Lake; A History of Kingswood School Cranbrook, Brookside song writer, HUB grammar tutor, GMS Aftercare hostess, Honorary alumna. The list goes on and on. She will be remembered forever.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Elizabeth "Betsy" Comer Clark died on Monday, February 22, at the age of 85, after several years with dementia. She had been a bright, spirited, unconventional woman with a lifelong love of literature, classical music, opera, dogs, and tennis. Her decline began about four years ago and was severe. Dementia is a cruel disease to those who suffer it and to those who love them.

Betsy was born in Macon, Georgia, on August 6, 1935, the daughter of Chester Johnson Comer, a career U.S. Army officer who served in China during World War II and retired as a colonel, and Elizabeth "Bep" Peavey Comer, who came from a peach-growing family. She had one brother, Johnny.

In 1956, Betsy received a B.A. in French from Wesleyan College in Macon, which was founded in 1836 and the first college in the western world chartered to grant degrees to women. She would receive an M.A. in English from Vermont College in 1984.

Betsy married her home-town sweetheart, Gilliam Clark Jr., in June of 1956. He had just finished an engineering degree at Georgia Tech and was a recently commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. During his time in the service, they lived on a series of naval bases, including at Norfolk, Virginia, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following Gilliam's discharge in 1958, they settled in Detroit, where Gilliam worked in the automobile industry.

By the early 1960s they had four children-Gil III, Beth, John, and Tim-and the marriage was souring. They divorced in 1966, and Betsy began teaching English in the Auburn Heights School District, near Pontiac, at the elementary level. There she met Barbara Vedder, a fellow member of the faculty who was also recently divorced with three children of her own-Kurt, Jill, and Lee.

The Clarks and the Vedders became so close that following a fire in the Clark house in 1968, they decided to combine families in the Vedder home, a sprawling manse on Vhay Lake in Bloomfield Hills, just opposite the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club.

This unconventional arrangement-two divorcees sharing a bedroom and seven lively children roving the environs-met with some apprehension in the staid neighborhood. However, next-door neighbor Bill Davidson-CEO of Guardian Industries and soon-to-be owner of the Detroit Pistons basketball team-delighted in the menagerie, often swinging the bat during games of 500 with all seven children in his back yard or taking the entire

household to Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour and encouraging one of the kids to pretend it was their birthday to ensure they got the full treatment from the staff. (Bill eventually had a son and daughter of his own, one of whom became a student of Betsy's.)

During summers in these years, Betsy and Barbara were administrators at a day camp at Upland Hills Farm, in Oxford, while the kids were either campers or counsellors. Founded by educational progressives Knight and Dorothy Webster and run with the help of their children Ken, Steve and his wife Leslie, Bruce, and Pam, this institution would eventually include a school and an Ecological Awareness Center. As teenagers, Betsy's sons and daughter worked year-round at the farm driving draft horses pulling wagons and sleighs full of weekend visitors. The Webster family were dear friends throughout Betsy's life.

In September of 1968, Betsy began teaching English at Brookside School Cranbrook. In 1972, following four years with the Vedder family, both in Bloomfield Hills and in Clarkston, she moved with her children onto the Cranbrook campus, to a house on Faculty Way. (Barbara eventually remarried her ex-husband, Dr. Robert Vedder, who became much loved in the extended family, and the Vedder and Clark children have remained de facto siblings to this day.)

With the exception of one regretful year in the mid-1980s working as a technical writer in Washington, D.C., Betsy would spend the rest of her career at the Cranbrook Educational Community. She taught at Brookside until 1981, when she moved to Kingswood Middle School, with the position of Assistant Dean added to her teaching responsibilities. In subsequent years she became Dean and eventually Head of Cranbrook Kingswood Girls' Middle School, all while still teaching.

Although as an educator she could be intimidating, she nevertheless became beloved by generations of students, and many of them kept in regular contact with her long into their adulthoods. As the decades passed, students she taught in the '60s and '70s sent their children to her classrooms in the '80s and '90s. An impressive number of the girls who passed through her English classes are now writers and editors at some of the country's most prestigious publications.

When Betsy retired from Cranbrook Kingswood in 1999, nostalgia for the South caused her to move back to Georgia. The experiment didn't last. In the early 2000s she returned to Michigan to begin writing a history of Kingswood School, from its conception by Ellen Scripps Booth and George Booth in the 1920s to its merger with Cranbrook School in 1985.

Published in 2006 by the Cranbrook Press, Beside a Lake: A History of Kingswood School Cranbrook was among Betsy's proudest accomplishments. Elegantly designed and illustrated,

it is a comprehensive account of the Booth's vision, architect Eliel Saarinen's mastery, and more than five decades of rich student life.

Betsy's association with the schools did not end there. Now in her 70's, she went to work under Director Darryl Taylor for Horizons Upward Bound (HUB), Cranbrook's program to prepare Detroit-area students with limited opportunities for their college careers. She found it some of the most meaningful teaching she had ever done.

Betsy was still nominally working for HUB, though with reduced responsibilities, when just a handful of years ago a former student now employed at the schools noticed her on campus in the distance. Something seemed amiss, so she went out to her. She asked Betsy if she was all right, if she needed help. But Betsy was not all right. She was standing in a place that she had known and loved for nearly 50 years, she was standing beside Kingswood Lake, and she was lost.

Elizabeth Comer Clark was preceded in death by her brother Johnson Clark, son John Clark, and grandson Nicholas Clark. She is survived by her sons Gilliam Clark III of Mt. Clemens, MI, and Tim Clark of Juneau, AK; her daughter Elizabeth de Cesena (Manuel) of Fort Lauderdale, FL; her granddaughters Hanna Clark of Colorado Springs, CO, and Macie Clark of Pontiac, MI; and by the Vedder children Kurt of Cleveland, OH, Jill of Royal Oak, MI, and Lee of Ann Arbor, MI.

Her remains will rest at Christ Church Cranbrook.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elizabeth Clark Obituary - Rochester, MI

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Elizabeth "Betsy" Comer Clark died on Monday, February 22, at the age of 85, after several years with dementia. She had been a bright, spirited, unconventional woman with a lifelong love of literature, classical music, opera, dogs, and tennis. Her decline began about four years ago and was severe.

# data[].attributes.body
Remembering teacher, coach and mentor David Tidwell who taught at the upper school from 1997 to 2011, chairing the Religion and Philosophy Department and coaching tennis and football. His distinct voice will resonate in the memories of those who had the good fortune to receive his memorable invocations and blessings in his role as upper school chaplain. Alumni and friends may leave messages for his family on his obituary page: http://bit.ly/ckDtidwellObit

# data[].attributes.headline
Carolyn Tower inspired Brooksiders with a love of music for more than thirty years

# data[].attributes.subject
Carolyn Tower inspired Brooksiders with a love of music for more than thirty years

# data[].attributes.body
She was an extraordinary collaborator and composed many songs still performed today at Brookside chapels and festivals. Her students remember her energy conducting their Orff performances and the joy she radiated at the piano. Pictured here with colleague Katie Lorts.

# data[].attributes.body
former faculty member Mack Goodwin passed away last May. He taught at Cranbrook from 1962-1973, covering diverse subjects including painting, shop, math and coaching basketball, hockey, bike racing and chess. He was a residential faculty member and his children Anne '80, Allison '82 and Tor '88 are alumni. See more about his life here: https://legcy.co/3d0g13g

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mack Goodwin early days at Cranbrook-001

# data[].attributes.body
Marcus Christopher Hunter (CK '86) passed in Acworth, Georgia on Saturday, March 27, 2021.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.marietttafuneralhome.org

Marcus left Cranbrook to attend Columbia ('90) and receive an MBA from U. Michigan ('95). He went on to be a highly respected consultant, strategist, and business leader whose advice was valued by many clients. I was with him when he met Monica, his eventual wife and mother of two wonderful children, Alexa (20) and and Maxwell (16). They settled in Atlanta, GA where he was finally laid to rest.  Sleep well Palladin.

# data[].attributes.body
Susan Rice taught at Brookside from 1965 to 1972. She inspired students with a love of Greek mythology and established a student club "The Trifling Monographs" dedicated to Sherlock Holmes.

# data[].attributes.body
Starting at Brookside in 1999 she was Miss Larned. During the next two decades she became Mrs. Tweed and a schools parent, as well as a colleague and teacher beloved by all.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Obituary

Susan Larned Tweed, Susie, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends, in Bloomfield Hills, MI, at age 47 on May 4, 2021. Susie passed away after an 8-month battle with glioblastoma, which she fought valiantly until the very end. Susie was born in Evanston, IL, on January 18, 1974, to Bill and Polly Larned. She was the Larneds' second child, growing up in Wilmette, IL, between older brother Scott and younger brother Judd. From the time she was young, Susie impressed all those around her with her kindness, amazing work ethic, and tenacity. At New Trier High School, she divided her time as a student, state swimmer and singer, and excelled at all. Upon matriculating at the University of Michigan, Susie began pursuing what would be her lifelong professional passion, elementary education. An education major and proud member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, Susie passed her time student teaching during the week, and cheering on the Maize and Blue on Saturdays. Every summer for years saw her return to Minocqua, WI, where she continued honing her teaching skills as a counselor and, later, program director, at her cherished Clearwater Camp, which she began attending as a camper at age 11. In 2000, Susie met Jamie Tweed, who swept her off her feet despite his being a Michigan State alum. Susie and Jamie were married in Kenilworth, IL on July 6, 2002, and, throughout their marriage, shared a love of travel, attending sporting events, and spending lots of time with friends and family - especially their daughter, Sara. Susie has been a teacher at Cranbrook School in Michigan for almost 20 years, after starting her teaching career at Lake Forest Country Day in Illinois. Generations of students speak warmly of what Ms. Larned/Mrs. Tweed taught them during her time as a 4th and 5th grade language arts teacher. They speak even more of her kindness and ability to reach all types of students and help them excel. Susie was constantly pushing herself to continue her own education and become an even more effective teacher, traveling to conferences to learn about new educational philosophies and technologies, and earning her Masters of Education at Oakland University. Susie is survived by her husband, James Tweed, and daughter Sara Tweed (Bloomfield Hills, MI); parents Polly and Bill Larned (Glencoe, IL); mother- and father-in-law Heather and George Tweed (Bloomfield Hills, MI); brother Judd Larned (Chicago, IL) and wife Carla; nieces Georgia Port (Chicago, IL), Zoe Larned, and Nora Larned (Chicago, IL); and nephew Nick Larned (Chicago, IL). She is predeceased by brother Scott Larned. A private funeral will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 1:00 pm Eastern Time at Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI, with the Rev. Dr. William J. Danaher, Jr. presiding. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and strict limits on in-person attendance, the service will be livestreamed and may be viewed online at at this link. An open outdoor reception for all who would like to join will follow at 2:30pm ET next to Brookside Elementary School at 700 Cranbrook Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI. In lieu of flowers, Susie asked for donations to be sent to Clearwater Camp to help others have the same experiences she was blessed with in her life. Donations can be sent to Clearwater Camp for Girls at P.O. Box 152, Minocqua, WI 54548 or donate via this link

To send flowers to the family in memory of Susan Larned Tweed please visit our Tribute Store.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Susan Larned Tweed Obituary - Royal Oak, Michigan , A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors | Tribute Archive

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Susan Larned Tweed, Susie, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends, in Bloomfield Hills, MI, at age 47 on May 4, 2021. Susie passed away after an 8-month battle with glioblastoma, which she fought valiantly until the very end. Susie was born in Evanston, IL, on January 18, 1974, to Bill and Polly Larned.

# data[].attributes.body
Chuck came and enjoyed his 80th reunion on campus in 2018. We will be thinking about him this reunion weekend.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Charles Himelhoch - who started as a stock boy in his family's department store business and rose to CEO, spearheading innovations in the fashion industry - died Monday morning.

He was 101.

Despite all his distinguished professional accomplishments, Carol Himelhoch said her dad was someone who took time to do something as ordinary as waking her and brother up for school and helping them with their homework when they needed it.

"He was somebody, who, when you walked in a room with him, his face would light up," she added. "He made everybody feel so special, like they were the most important person in the world. That's why he was so loved by so many people."

Among employees, he was Mr. Charles. Among friends, he was just Chuck.

He believed in fitness, she added, and made his two kids swim or run a mile before breakfast. At 100, he was still swimming at the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club, where the moms of the kids he'd amuse were known as "Charlie's Angels."

He was witty, his daughter said. And he put other people first.

Carol Himelhoch - who is now president of the company, which reopened in 2018 as a luxury clothing store online - said her father was an idea man, always innovating ways to sell merchandise and better serve the customer.

He led the way, she said, in developing a junior's department for teen girls, created ensemble displays to showcase and combine merchandise from different departments, and helped to launch now-famous designer Calvin Klein's career.

A Detroit native, Himelhoch graduated from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, and Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served four years.

After that, he began working in the family business, starting in the stockroom. He worked as a salesman, coat buyer, merchandise manager, and other positions that gave him insights into how the company operated.

He was CEO for more than three decades.

His grandfather, Wolf Himelhoch, started the company in the 1870s in Michigan's Thumb. He came from Latvia and sold goods on a pushcart between Caro and Bay City. He opened a store in Caro in 1876.

His father, Israel Himelhoch, and his three uncles, expanded it.

They opened a small store on Woodward in Detroit in 1907, and then a larger one. By 1979, when the flagship store closed, the family business had seven stores. The Detroit store is now Himelhoch Apartments.
More: More: Grosse Pointe jeweler John Ahee dies at 56 Businessman, philanthropist Joseph L. Hudson Jr. dies at 89
Nationally, Himelhoch was a member of the Vendor Relations Committee of the National Retail Merchants Association, chairman of the Ready-To-Wear Committee, and treasurer of the Specialty Stores of America.

In addition to being a leader in the retail industry, he also was director of the Better Business Bureau, Detroit Community Trust, the Central Business District of Detroit, and the Retail Merchants Association of Detroit.

He also was active at Meadowbrook Theater, The Anthony Wayne Society of Wayne State University, Rotary International, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Area Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Along with his wife, Isabel, he was active in St. Dunstan's Guild of Cranbrook, which puts on plays, and the Birmingham Village Players.

In the late 70s, Himelhoch became an adjunct professor of retail management at Wayne State University, Oakland University, Central Michigan University, and Eastern Michigan University.

He also formed his own consulting and research firm, Himelhoch Retail Research Specialists, and worked as an assistant to the president of Schnieder's Sporting Goods Stores.

"A lot of people say he gave them a start in their careers, and he mentored them," Carol Himelhoch said. "He was always unassuming, and quietly in the background helping people."

More: Hudson's, Crowley's, and Himelhoch turned Detroit into a shopping destination

More: Detroit retail kingpin, philanthropist Joseph L. Hudson dies

He had memberships in various clubs, including the Franklin Hills Country Club, the Standard Club, the Bloomfield Open Hunt Club, and served as president of the Birmingham Tennis Club.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
In addition to his daughter and her husband, Stephen Ball, Himelhoch is survived by a son, Charles (Chip) Himelhoch Jr. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Isabel, who died in 2018.

The family said they expect to hold a private funeral service this week. Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, 705 W. 11 Mile Road, in Royal Oak, overseeing the arrangements.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Charles Himelhoch, former CEO of Himelhoch's department store, dies at 101

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Charles Himelhoch - who started as a stock boy in his family's department store business and rose to CEO, spearheading innovations in the fashion industry - died Monday morning. He was 101.

# data[].attributes.headline
Remembering Fenton Ludtke '42 with pride

# data[].attributes.subject
Remembering Fenton Ludtke '42 with pride

# data[].attributes.body
Ludtke passed away in January at 97. From storming the beaches of Normandy to a remarkable career in reporting and advertising he lived a full life. His passions for the written word, music and politics were nurtured at Cranbrook and carried through his life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Savannah, Ga. (WSAV) - It's been 75 years but Fenton Ludtke still remembers the day when he and thousands of other soldiers landed on the beaches of France.

"The whole operation was called Overlord, the landing on D-Day," he told me as I spoke with him in his Savannah home.

A native of Michigan, Ludtke says he was drafted during his first year of college and at age 20, found himself as part of a group landing on Utah Beach which he says is about 75 miles from Omaha Beach.

At 95 (96 in a few weeks) Ludtke says he doesn't remember every detail, but he remembers enough, including the scary parts.

"We had never had an experience doing this, but we went down there with equipment and got into the Higgins boat and if you've seen pictures of them, we were stacked up I think like eggs in a carton, everybody in front of each other looking forward, " he said. "And I sort of looked over the shoulder of the fellow in front of me and I could see off in the murky distance the gray ribbon of land. And I thought for an instant that I could get a bullet right now and it could all be over."

Ludtke though said he "put that out of his mind immediately and when they landed he ran ahead."

"I was amazed at how long that beach was because as we landed and splashed ashore we had to climb up a great distance with equipment and sand slipping beneath my feet," Ludtke said.

Ludtke says he and others kept going because that's what was expected of them. "Our cause was to defeat Germany."

He told us of leaving his home and going to training to Fort Sam Houston and within about 60 days going to Africa to retrieve some German prisoners.

He came back to the U.S. for a time. Then he told us he was in the 3rd Army and talked about going overseas and landing in Scotland.

"On January 18, 1944, and I remember this because it was my mother's birthday, I boarded a ship in the Boston area, and we headed to Europe, and we landed in Scotland. It was dark. All of Europe seemed to be blacked out at night. And at one point someone pulled up in a truck, and they got out, and they said - do you know who your boss is now? And we said no. And they said it's General George Blood and Guts Patton."

Ludtke says he was thrilled but that a chill also went down his spine because Patton was known as a tough guy and disciplinarian. "He was also a hell of a soldier," Ludtke said.

Ludtke says he spent much of the war with a group of soldiers that guarded Patton. "And sometimes I tell people I wasn't guarding him, he was guarding me," Ludtke told us.

Ludtke talked of that day 75 years ago and what he did when he made it to the beach. "I went straight in past a bunker, a German bunker that had been hit thank God and it was destroyed and that was a bit of luck that that happened," he said.

He also told us of a close call the next day when a German pilot commandeered an American plane that had apparently been shot down and the Germans had rebuilt to fly.

"Someone yelled to take cover and I heard the approaching plane and then I heard the sound of gunfire and I looked up and I saw the bullets hitting the ground next to me but not me," he said with a slight smile.

About 25 years ago Ludtke went back to France to the same beach. He shows us a picture of him standing and looking out to the beach below.

"Down near the water's edge there were two or three children playing Ring around the Rosy and I looked back and I get emotional even telling you here but these are playing Ring around the Rosy and I thought this is really what we fought the war for, for the peace of children being able to play."

He said he never thought of himself as a hero but thinks the many who died were. Ludtke e at that time as something that shaped him, and he hopes still serves as an example.

"But I have to say people come up to me and say 'Oh my hero, you're one of my heroes' and I say no, to me the heroes are those that were killed. They gave everything, they gave their lives so that I could live and others, so they are the heroes," Ludtke told me.

"But I guess it's comfortable for me to say that I lived in the greatest generation but maybe it's enough to say I lived in the greatest country," he told us.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Veteran who took part in D-Day calls others heroes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Savannah, Ga. (WSAV) - It's been 75 years but Fenton Ludtke still remembers the day when he and thousands of other soldiers landed on the beaches of France. "The whole operation was called Overlord, the landing on D-Day," he told me as I spoke with him in his Savannah home.

# data[].attributes.body
Ned was a devoted volunteer and served multiple terms the alumni board. He will be missed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Edward N. Schneider

On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Edward N. Schneider, known as Ned to family and friends, passed away peacefully from natural causes at the grand old age of 94.

He was married to Joan for 39 years until her death in 1999. Left behind to honor his memories are his son Edward N. Schneider, Jr. and his wife LeAnne, his daughter Julie and her husband Keith, and his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Christopher. He also leaves behind his granddaughter Sarah Melton and her husband Chris, and grandson Daniel Cowan and his wife Amelia.

Ned proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his service to our country he and Joan started their life together he worked in production at Ford Motors, in Detroit, Michigan. A couple of years later, they moved out to Washington DC, where Ned attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He became a minister and they lived in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania for a couple of years. They then moved to Michigan, where he became Associate Rector at St. James Episcopal Church in Birmingham. After retiring from St.James, he became Rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Marysville, Michigan. In 2015 he moved out to Glendale Arizona, where he lived out the remainder of his life.

Ned was an active member of his Bloomfield Village community, where he spent most of his life. He was a long standing volunteer fireman for the Bloomfield Village Fire Department.

Ned was an avid reader and moviegoer, but his real passion was the theater. He enjoyed attending plays but he loved to act in them. He was a member of St. Dunstan's Theater Guild of Cranbrook, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He was also a member of The Players Clubhouse and Theater in Detroit, Michigan.

He played an important part in our love of history and culture. We love you dad. You will be deeply missed.

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts." -William Shakespeare

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Services by Heritage Funeral Chapel (623) 974-3671 www.heritagefuneralchapels.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Edward Schneider Obituary (2021) - Peoria, AZ - Detroit Free Press

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Edward N. Schneider On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Edward N. Schneider, known as Ned to family and friends, passed away peacefully from natural causes at the grand old age of 94. He was married to Joan for 39 years until her death in 1999. Left behind to honor his memories are his son Edward N.

# data[].attributes.body
at her 30th reunion

# data[].attributes.body
Jerry Ziola, Cranbrook Class of ’76, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in 2020.  This would have been Jerry’s 45th reunion year.  Jerry was the youngest of 3 brothers to attend Cranbrook, along with Bob (Class of ’74) and Tom (Class of ‘71) and elder to his sister Marian (Kingswood Class of ’82).  Jerry was mere weeks from retiring from a big job at Northeastern University in Boston as the Senior Director of Sustainability & Energy Management (ie, “chief energy guru”) where he had a highly distinguished and acclaimed professional career spanning 35 years.

At Cranbook, Jerry was a serious student and a spectacular track star.  He set numerous indoor & outdoor records, including winning the decathlon twice in a row (and setting the all-time School record) along with numerous other indoor & outdoor sprint records that still stand.  After Cranbrook, Jerry went on to England on an ESU Fellowship (under Ben Snyder) and later to UofM where he got a degree in Environmental Science.  That launched an accomplished career in environmental science – which was a highly unusual path for a kid who grew up on the streets of downtown Detroit.

At the time of his passing, Jerry was about to retire to a large family compound he had built deep in the woods of upstate Michigan.  You see, Jerry had a special eye for the natural environment.  He was constantly in awe of nature’s beauty and forever curious about what it could tell us - not only about flora & fauna around us - but also about ourselves and how to live better with one another. Naturally, he became an avid hiker and fearless climber.  But he also deeply believed we all should leave the world a better place than we found it.  Indeed, he acted on that guiding principle.  Not only did Jerry transform Northeastern into a world leader in energy & sustainability and taught countless students and interns along the way, but he also planted over 50,000 trees himself across the state of Michigan, which he always called home and loved so much.

Jerry was a bright light to everyone who know him well.  Self-reliant, private, and modest, he gave selflessly to family, friends, and anyone in greater need, while never losing his sharp wit and keen sense of humor.  A more stand-up guy would be hard to find.  His sudden passing has left deep holes in many hearts.  Jerry is in our prayers and will be sorely missed.  So the next time you look across the Cranbrook campus and witness the beauty of nature and human achievement side-by-side, think of Jerry.
-- Tom-the-lesser-brother '71

# data[].attributes.headline
John Albrecht '47 at the 2018 Alumni Memorial Service.

# data[].attributes.subject
John Albrecht '47 at the 2018 Alumni Memorial Service.

# data[].attributes.body
       
Time, Love and loss –  Remembering Nora (Chica) Love Platt
November 4, 1952 – September 5, 2021

Dear Kingswood Cranbrook 70,

We have lost three great classmates who were dear close friends, intertwined in life and in death. Gail was gone in a sudden tragic instant. Lynn generously shared her illness and brought us all together to hold her up at the end, and Chica departed privately not wanting to trouble her friends. 

Those three were so connected that Chica traveled to Colorado in January to help with the memorial tribute when Lynn was unsure her health would allow her to attend the reunion. They worked together via email but Lynn lost touch mid-summer. Lynn tried unsuccessfully to reach Chica in the months and weeks leading up to her death but Chica was already gone. 

Chica quietly stepped back without telling anyone when she was diagnosed. Daughter Emily told us that her mom did not want to ‘share her suffering with the class’ and died very privately. 
This desire to not trouble others is reflected in her quiet, funny, loyal, undemanding, brave, and sometimes fierce personality. She suffered her tragic losses of a father in seventh grade, her mom in her 30’s and then her husband at age 38 quietly and bravely. She asked little and she gave so much and I hope she knew how much she was loved.

I have been struggling with this idea of how to hold up and support those we love in life and in death. Mildred Nora Love and I were baby friends from her first days on earth when her family moved in down the street.  We flowed back and forth over the years between houses, Adams Elementary classrooms, and wandering the neighborhood on summer nights or tagging along on family trips. We carpooled or road the bus to KSC on and off, and we shared visits and weddings and news over the years. It was a quiet sisterly friendship without any fights or petti-rivalry that I can remember. As I moved forward in life I always knew she was there and I could fall back on her for support if I ever needed to.

Recently I woke up from a real and vivid dream of us hanging out as teenagers. My first thought was to give her a call and thank her for being someone I could always count on. The realization that she was beyond a phone call reminded me that we need to reach out to those we love, talk to the people who matter, tell the people we value, and treasure the closeness we have with the ones we grew up with. See you at the reunion?!

Please send any memory, and copies of your photos to: mbkelleylowe@gmail.com, 
love you all,
Mary Beth